repaired · 2026 Q3
Evaporative emissions: canister
NewRisk. An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
2013 Ford FocusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 2,112 owner complaints about the 2013 Ford Focus, most often about the power train. It is covered by 11 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-331 the manufacturer reports only 44% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 25, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Chris Yarzab from , USA, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Ford Focus has problems
2,112 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
1,102Power train21 crash/fire/injury
344Engine12 crash/fire/injury
276Electrical system11 crash/fire/injury
273Steering7 crash/fire/injury
209Fuel/propulsion system7 crash/fire/injury
112Vehicle speed control
84Structure
53Fuel system, gasoline
53Latches/locks/linkages
21320 other systems36 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 1102 | 21 |
| Engine | 344 | 12 |
| Electrical system | 276 | 11 |
| Steering | 273 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 209 | 7 |
| Vehicle speed control | 112 | 5 |
| Structure | 84 | 5 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 53 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 53 | 1 |
| 20 other systems | 213 | 36 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
11 recalls
2013 Ford Focus recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Electrical: engine block heater
NewRisk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. The excessive vacuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…
Show 7 more recalls
repaired · 2020 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Risk. The excessive vaccuum may result in an engine stall while driving, without warning and without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a…
repaired · 2018 Q1
Hatchback/liftgate: lock
Risk. With only a single press needed, the driver may accidently unlatch the hatchback, increasing the risk of injury to any unsecured passengers in the back.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
repaired · 2017 Q2
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q1
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Exterior lighting
Risk. Without the proper illumination of the side maker lamps, the vehicle may be less visible in night time conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Latches/locks/linkages
Risk. The operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
39kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 897 power train complaints. 85% were reported before 100,000 miles.
391under 30k miles766under 100k miles131100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
29 owners mentioned a cost$2,300median
Middle half: $1,600 – $3,900
Steering
23 owners mentioned a cost$1,800median
Middle half: $1,600 – $2,348
Fuel/propulsion system
12 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $1,400 – $2,225
Electrical system
11 owners mentioned a cost$845median
Middle half: $450 – $1,750
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Focus year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Focus median. How we score
'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Ford Focus safety ratings
2013 Ford Focus 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Ford Focus, and the recalls they led to.
- Door Latch FailureLed to recall 16V-643
- Door Latch FailuresLed to recall 20V-177
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Focus owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Transmission error stating clutch A engaged. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle would not move after being stopped at the stop light or stop sign or stop during traffic.
I purchased a 2013 Ford Focus from Boucher Ford of Menomonee Falls, WI in February, 2026. A few months later, Ford issued a recall on this car that requires the Powertrain Control Module to be reprogrammed to avoid issues like a collapsed fuel tank or stalling while driving, potentially causing an…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the transmission failed, and the vehicle lost motive power, and the vehicle was stuck in the middle of traffic. The contact referenced several satisfaction programs for the issue; however, the VIN was not included in the repair. The…
Own a 2013 Focus?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.